Apparatus for making feather boas and the like.



C L. KAUFMAN.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FEATHER BOAS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1913. L222,300, Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1913. 1,222,300, Patented Apr. 10,1917.

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C. L. KAUFMAN;

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FEATHER BOAS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1913. 1,222,860, Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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C. L. KAUFMAN.

APPARATUS .FOR MAKING FEATHER BOAs AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22,1913.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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srnrias CHARLES L. KAUFMAN, 0F ENGLEWOGD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNCR T0 ALEXANDER ARBIB, OF NEVJ YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FEATHER BOAS AND THE LIKE.

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Application filed January 22, 1913.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. KAUFMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, (whose post-oflice address is Englewood, New Jersey,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Feather Boas and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for making feather boas and the like, and contemplates more particularly the provision of means adapted to present to a predetermined point, preferably adjacent a sewing or binding instrumentality, a substantially continuous line of appropriate material, thereat preferably to be bound together and transformed into a boa or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device or devices adapted to main tain in a predetermined line of travel certain predetermined portions of the material or units of material, as, for instance, the quills of fea hers or the like.

Another object is to provide means adapted to properly supply auxiliary material, such as the flexible cord or the like which is preferably fed so as to be continuously superposed upon the line of material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide convenient alining instrumentalities whereby material may be added to the line in such manner that it will normally seek a p 'edetermined disposition for subsequent transportation toward a predetermined destination.

A further object is to provide an apparatas wherein a flexible cord or the like approaches or contacts the line of feathers or the like adjacent the material-assembling point, or point whereat thematerial falls uniformly into the said line.

Another object is to provide, in combination with main conveying means, means located adjacent the line of feathers or the like adapted to guide said line in a changed path of travel, and preferably for exit from the apparatus, whereby the material in said line will be freed uninjured from said main conveying means.

A further object is to so connect the working parts of the apparatus that a conveying Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. ill), 1911?.

Serial No. 743,660.

means for the material will be given a stepby-step or intermittent travel, preferably during continuous operation of sewing or like instrumentalities and so synchronized that said conveying means will be at rest during partial or complete actuation of the sewing or binding instrumentality.

Still a further object is to provide, in combination with main conveying means, auxiliary conveying means adapted to convey material to be taken automatically up by said main conveying means.

Many other objects will be in part 0bvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

lhe invention accordingly consists in the various combinations of the different mechanisms, and in the modes of operation of the same, as well as the combination of all of them in one apparatus and their variously related cooperation, and also in the features of construction, arrangements of parts, and modes of operation of the parts making up the several mechanisms individually considered; all as will hereinafter be set forth and indicated in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure l is a view in side elevation showing a structure embodying the same;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 1, but with belts 15 omitted for clearer disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. l and looking in the di rection of the arrows;

Fig. l is a top plan view of certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, partly broken away, and with the more massive and other view-obstructing parts above the table 12 removed Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through Fig. 4: on the line l l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in elevation of certain of the parts shown in elevation from the opposite angle of view in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of either the device generally indicated in Fig. 1 at 71 or 89, that is, in either case a view looking in the direction of the arrow 70; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the relation of a preferred form of drawings. 7

Now taking up particularly the description of the illustratiye embodiment of this invention disclosed in the drawings, attention is directed first to Figs. 1 and 2; it being preliminarily stated that the conveying means new about to be disclosed are illustra tive merely, and are shown in more or less spaced-apart and contacting relations the characteristics of which, as well as the characteristics of the other individual elements and pluralities of elements herein disclosed, are not essential to the essence of the invention. Thus, commencing said description, there is shown extending transversely of Fig. 2 a main driving shaft 8 which, assumed to be preferably connected with suitable power, is most clearly shown in Fig. 1 as being supported within bearing members 9 and as carrying fixedly thereon a. sprocket-wheel 10 and an eccentric 11.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, cross-reference to Fig. 2, however, being generally advantageous, I show a table 12, supported by legs 13. At one end of the table 12 is a pulley 14, over which runs a pair of belts 15 (wide here Fig. 3,wherein said belts are shown in section where they intersect the cutting-plane 3-3 of Fig. 1), spaced apart by the parallel annular ribs 16, these ribs defining as shown an annular groove 17 adapted to accommodate the cord 42 intermediate its hereinafter described line of feed. Pulley 14 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 19 and from said pulley the belts 15 run horizontally over thetable, in close proximity to and in superposition upon the horizontally extending lengths of a complementary pair of belts 20, most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, on account of the emission from said Fig. 2 of an illustration of belts 15. And although hereinafter a detailed description of the operation of this illustrative type of apparatus will be entered into, it may aid comprehension at this point to state that it is between the contacting surfaces of pairs of belts 15 and 20 that the line of material is gripped and transported from a predetermined point in advance of the shown sewing means 22 to a predetermined point beyond said sewing means, in such a manner that various alining instrumentalities, here shown as being disposed to locate their effective parts somewhere within the longitudinal space 21 (Fig. 2) medially of the pairs of belts 15 and 20, will arrange such material in apreferable disposition as it approaches the sewing point. Belts 15 and 20 along their contacting horizontal lengths are adapted for simultaneous and similar travel in the direction of the arrow 46, due to the presence of the hereinafter described driving and connecting instrumentalities. After passing over pulley 14 as above, belts 15 next pass over a pulley 24, which is generally similar to pulley 14 save that it is merely provided with a single annular rib 25 between the pairs of belts 15, and thence pass over a third and final pulley 26 similar to pulley 24. A temporary adversion to Fig. 3 will most clearly show the mounting of pulley 26 within its bracket 28, bracket 28 being adjustably mounted upon standard 29 as shown.

Still referring in the main to Figs. 1 and 2, tracing a path of travel of pair of belts 20, it will be seen that this pair of belts passes over a pulley 30 similar to the pulley 24 (title here Fig. 3), rotatively mounted V as shown. From this pulley 30 belts 20 are adapted to travel in the direction of the arrow 33 to pass over the pulley 34, mounted upon a bracket and standard similar to bracket 28 and standard 29 (wide here also Fig. 3), and thence pass over the pulley 35 thereupon to take up their horizontal lengths of travel. The travel of belts 20 over pulley 35 will clearly be understood when it is observed that the spiked belt 36 passes over said pulley 35 medially of the passing thereover of the pair of belts 20, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4; pulley 35 being in effect a driven pulley from belts 20 but a driving pulley for spiked belt 36.

Carried by the stem 39 is a cord-gripper comprising the usual pair of opposed memhers 40. A cord 42 is adapted to be held between said members 40, but passes therebetween on the application of slight draft. The cord is fed from any source of supply beyond the point 43, and, after traveling over the groove 17 carried by the pulley 14, travels horizontally and medially of the belts 20, passing just over the surface of a plate 44 lying between the sidewisely-spaced horizontally-extending belt sections 1520 (m'cle particularlyhere Fig. 4), but passing under the other various interposed alining and restraining instrumentalities located as best shown in Fig. 2 between pulleys 14 and 24. A momentary examination of Fig. 3

may also be of aid at this point, in which I figure is shown in section the cord 42, the belt sections 1520, and the plate 44. Cord 42 changes its direction from the horizontal with belts 15 and passes along the pulley 24 thence to follow the periphery of a presserroller 45 as indicated by the arrows 46; presser-roller 45 contacting with a similar presser-roller 48.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, although Fig. 3 shows also very clearly the intermeshing gears 51, 50, and 56, 53, 54, it will be noted that in this illustrative embodiment pulley 24 carries fixedly upon its shaft 52 a gear 53. Gear 53 meshes downs wardiy with a gear fixedly mounted upon the shaft 55, this shaft fixedly carrying pulley and being rotatably mounted in depending brackets 31 carried by the pair of frames This same gear 53 meshes upwardly with a gear 56 carried fixedly upon the shaft l9, this shaft being also rotatably mounted in said frames 32 as'shown, and carrying also a presser-roller d5. Shaft i9, carrying said gear 56, carries also a twin gear separated from said gear 56 by roller 45, gear 50 in turn meshing with gear 51, fixedly carried on the shaft d9, which shaft carries also a presser-roller 48. The periphcries of rollers and 48 are urged into spring-pressed contact as by the well-lmown means shown at 32.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be observed that shaft carries a ratchet 57, fixedly mounted thereon. Shaft 55 carries also, loosely mounted thereon, a bell-crank lever 58. Bell-crank lover carries at one of its free ends a pawl 59 adapted to co-act with the teeth carried by ratchet 57, and is pivoted at its other free end to a link 60. Link 60 is pivoted as at 61 to an eceentricstrap 62, mounted loosely upon the periphery of the eccentric 11 which is fixedly carried by the main driving shaft 8. lit will thus be seen that upon continuous operation of shaft 8 (Fig. 3), a step-bystep actuation will be transmitted to the driving pulley 30 (for feeding intermittently the lower pair of belts 20) 5 a similar actuation, transmitted from the gear 5%- to the gear 58, will be given to the pull y 24 (for feeding intermittently and in synchronism the upper pair of belts 15) a similar actuation, transmitted from the gear 53 to the gears 56, 50 and 51, will be given to the roller l5, carried on the shaft 49, and to the roller 48, carried on the shaft l9; and an independent, properly speeded actuation will be com municated to the sprocket-wheel 10, for transmission through the means about to be described, to the sewing means 22.

A sewing machine, indicated generally at 22 is here shown (most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3) as fixedly carrying a gear 63 upon the shaft 63 which actuates the stitching means through mechanism of well-known types. Gear 63 meshes with a gear 6%, gear 6i and a sprocket-wheel 65 being fixedly carried by a common shaft 66 journaled within the underhung fixtures 6?; sprocket chain 68 coupling up sprocket-wheels l0 and 65 as illustrated. This gear train set up by the meshing of members G l and 63 is be lieved to be preferabl especially in this connection, in lieu of other types of coupling, as it has been found advantageous to have in this embodiment such a synohronism of or eration between the intermittently actuated driving pulleys above referred to and the continuously operated sewing means, as

will cause each reciprocation of the needle 69 from and back to its elevated and material-cleared position to occur during an interval while the conveying means, as the belts l5 and 20, are completely at rest. lrioreover, with this construction, following the proper setting of the gears 6i and 63 in accordance with experiment or otherwise, permanent markings as indicatee at 72 in Fig. 1 may be inscribed adjacent certain chosen gear-teeth, and thus a convenient reassembling index be created for reestablishing the complete series of velocity ratios, after a previous disconnection of t ac powertransmission parts for obtaining reparativc or other access to the sewing machine or like interiorly-located instrinnentalities.

Referring next to the reciprocating needle 69 illustrated best in Figs. 3 and 8 as being utilized in this embodiment, l. prefer that this needle should here be mounted in and actuated b the well-known type of sewing machine in which alternate reciprocations take place in different vertical planes, as shown in full and dotted linesin Fig. 8, whereby the material may here be sewed to the cord 42 by the well-known Zigzag stitch. it will be most clearly noted in this Fig. 8 that the longitudinal plate (seen also in Figs. iand 5 and hereinafter described in connection with the illustrative types of alining instrumentaliti-es herein disclosed) is provided with a transverse slot 73 adapted to afiord needle 69 an adjacent lateral clearway. In this same Fig. 8 a portion of the fed material T-i disclosed, as well as, were said material assumed to be feathers, a portion of a central quill 75 or the like.

Before commencin a desciotion of the spiked belt 36, the statement should be made that satisfactory alineinent and conveyance of feather and ii re material has been obtained, when feathers or the like are successively and directly fed between the pairs of belts 15 and 20 at approximately the point indicated by the arrow 76 in Fig. 1, whether material is or is not subjected to the treatment of any special, or, indeed, any, alining device or devices. It has been found in p *actice, however, that the rapidity of accurate feed may be increased to a great extent by means of the utilization of an auxiliary carrier ahead of the point 7 6; and belt 36 is therefore included as a part of this embodiment. A description thereof will acordingly be given in the next succeeding paragraph.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, and 5, longitudinal plate at is disclosed as mounted upon the table 123, traversing the needle field (where it is provided with the slot 73, Fig. 8), and having substantially the same width as that of the median space between the sidewisely-located longitudinally-extending belt-lengths 15-20. In Figs. 4: and 5 this plate at is most clearly shown, and is shown here as terminating adjacent the spiked belt 36 in a narrowed tongue 15 of a convenient width to lie between the parallel lines of spikes or the like 77 and preferably to bear resiliently thereagainst; thereby being effective to pick up from the surface of belt 36 the adjacent segment of fed material in such manner that the crowding of the descending line of spikes 77 will carry the usually overlapping segments past the point 76, to be thereupon engaged by the pairs of belts 15 and 20. Belt 36 is obviously driven intermittently in synchronism with the similar driving of belts 15 and 20, since belt 36 is actuated to travel by its engagement with the central drum 78 (Fig. 2) of the tripledrummed pulley 35. A supporting bridge 79, mounted upon table 12 as shown, carries a spring pressed finger 80, carried thereon as by means of the clamp-plate 81 in the manner shown. The belt 86 is here disclosed as being illustratively provided with the double line of spikes 77 capacitated for travel within the median space between the belt-lengths 15 and 20. Tracing the circuit of this belt 36, it will be observed that the same, driven as aforesaid by the tripledrummed pulley 35, will have travel in the direction of the arrow 82, passing from the pulley 35 partially over the surface of table 12, thence descending through the slot 83 (Fig. 5), thence over the pulley 81 rotatably mounted in the fixture 85, and thence over the pulley 86 back to the pulley 35. It will be observed that the pulley 86 is here illustratively shown as being carried upon a type of adjustable belt-tightening device, comprising saliently a fixture 87 carrying as shown the pulley-mounting link 88.

Situated respectively in advance of and beyond the needle-field, as indicated mostclearly in Figs. 1 and 2, there are illustratively disclosed a plurality of devices 71 and 89. The prime purpose of each of these devices, here shown as substantially similarin construction and function (and hereinbefore having been intended as possible of utilization under the generally broad and inclusive expression alining instrumentalities), is to present adjacent their respective locations a guiding and restraining means, as the grooved roller 90 (Fig. 7), for guiding the cord 42 and-the conveyed material as well as for restraining the belt-lengths 1520 in close superposed-juxtaposition and for main taining the material-superposed cord relatively taut and free from danger of displacement by needle 69 on its up-stroke actuations. Referring accordingly to said Fig. 7 which may serve as a common illustrative disclosure for both devices 71 and 89, the spring-pressed roller 90 will be observed.

Roller 90 is provided as shown with an annularly-grooved median rib and with smaller diametered end-portions adapted to engage respectively the respective lengths 15-20. Roller 90 depends from a stem 91,

slidable in a housing 92 secured to the table 12, spring 93 surrounding the stem and bearing between the housing and a collar 9% ad justably fixed upon the stem. The lower end of stem 91 carries pivotally mounted ing an inverted trough, including two pori tions one in prolongation of the other but one separated from the other by the device 71 (Figs. 2 and 5). Each of these two portions is rigidly supported by means of its own suspending bracket 99 (but one of which is shown in Fig. 4). Member 98 is in this embodiment formed in transverse section as illustrated in Fig. 3; and at its end ad= jacent the needle field is obliquely cut away as indicated at 98, to allow of a closely adjacent disposition of the presser-foot 100 (carried by the sewing means 22 in any well-known manner), in such a way that the end-lip 101 of said foot will present a de flector surface 1.02 to the oncoming material and thereby guide the same under the foot.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, attention is finally directed to a device which is illustratively shown and may be employed in connection with this embodiment, reference now being made to the hood 103, fastened on table 12 as shown and affording a gateway 104: for emergence of successive spikes 77 on the belt 36 as well as a serving or feeding table-portion 105 surrounding said gateway. It may be noted that the under-flare 106 of said hood will also act to protect the body and limbs of an operator, presumed to be seated or otherwise posiigiolned opposite said hood, from the spiked e t. V

The operation of this embodiment of the invention, which should, by the foregoing description, largely be obvious, is substantially as follows:

Feathers are arranged in properly juxtaposed relation, which is preferably with their quills longitudinally alined, and with ends overlapping and butts, that is, the quill ends, preferably extending in the opposite direction to that of the line of feed; although it has been found in practice that satisfactory results nave been obtained when feathers are fed with their butts otherwise and even indiscriminately arranged. In this condition they are regularly fed or laid upon the spikes 77 carried by the belt 36 and successively projected through the gateway 104; from a preferable accumulation of material upon the table 105 of the hood 103; and are thence carried under the spring finger 80 to the paint 76 to be there engaged between belt portions 20 (Figs.

1 and 2); all the belts feeding intermittently as aforesaid and for the purposes aforesaid. The quills and median portions of the line of feathers will havebeen thus preliminarily alined medially between the spikes 77. In the intermittent feed of the belts 152O toward the left, the line of feathers will be carried beneath the horizontal course of the upper conveyer belts 15, the quills, alined as before, will be advanced within the space between the members of the pair of belts 15-20, which space is of course continuous between the belts, and the dues of the line of feathers will be gripped between the opposed members of the two pairs of belts and carried along with them. Passing from the pulley 14 and thence be neath the first presser roller carried by the device 71 (Figs. 1 and 7), the cord 42 is fed to the line of feathers, overlying the same substantially medially of the feathers, or above the quills (Fig. 3). Before reaching said device 71, however, the line of feathers, with superposed cord, travels on to the left first under the portion of trough 98 extending between pulley 1 and the device 71, and, passing under said device 71, thence travels under the portion of said trough extending between the device 71 and thepresser-foot 100. On passing finally beyond the trough, the line of material is guided against the lip 101 carried by the resser-foot 100 (Figs. 1 and 5), and is deflected directly under the foot. While the line is advancing a step the needle is up, and during the pauses in such intermittent advance the needle descends, alternately in difierent vertical planes (Fig. 8), puncturing the line of feathers on opposite sides of the quills and superposed cord, and cooperating with the other parts of the sewing machine which are operative below the feathers, to stitch the feathers together by the well-known zig-zag stitch that passes back and forth over the longitudinally extending quills and superposed cord. From the sewing machine the line of feathers, with attached cord, now passes on with the step-by-step movements of the conveying belts until it reaches the presser-roller carried by device 89 (Figs. 1 and 7 under which it passes. Thence the line of feathers from the said divergence of belts 15 and 20 to enable the line of material to be freed from said belts without any danger of injury to the delicate fines. It should also be noted that when once a line of cord 4-2 has been run through the machine, to continue an almost exhausted length the new length will merely have to be knotted to the rear end of the preceding cord in order to continue the proper operation of the machine. The importance of maintaining the horizontally spaced relation between the belts, especially adjacent the field of operations of the sewing machine, will be appreciated; as well as the necessity for keeping the binding cord under proper tension and properly alined so that the danger of the needle piercing the cord or belts is avoided. Positiveness of travel of the feathers is aided by the pulleys 1-1 and 24-, which urge the horizontal course of the upper belts toward the complemen tary horizontal course of the lower belts. and by the rolls 48 and 15, which act to positively draw the line of sewed-together feathers out of the machine, step-by-step, in consonance with the intermittent travel of the belts and the operation of the sewing machine. It will be understood, of course, as aforesaid, that before beginning operations the cord 42 is led between members 39 and 10 under pulley 1.4, trough 98, and the rollers carried by device 71 and 89, in order to keep the cord alined, as well as under the presser-foot 100, over the pulley 2 1 and between the rollers 15 and 4:8. The rotation of the rollers, in connection with the various tension devices which the cord engages, will. maintain it (the cord) under proper tension throughout its effective length in the machine. The feed of feathers is into the right-hand-end of the machine, as stated, and assuming such a feed rapid enough to keep pace with the operations of the apparatus, it is evident that a continuous length of the sewed material will be produced, which may be cut up into shorter lengths as desired. In other words, the line of feathers moves intermittently into the field of operations of the sewing means, and as rapidly as the front end of the line is stitched and moves on away from the needle, additions of feathers, properly arranged, .are made to the other end of the line, so that a line of any desired length may be made with a substantially continuous series of operations. There is, therefore, a moving line within the machine, constantly added to at one end in correspondence with the rate of movement of the line as a whole. The advantages of such a continuous process over the old method, whereby a line of feathers was framed up by hand, subjected to the sewing operation, the frame emptied of the sewed feathers, and refilled for another operation, all by hand, and with all the disadvantages of carelessness and waste of time, are obvious.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus of the kind described, including sewing means, means for supporting a collection of feathers or the like and carrying it through the field of operations of the sewing means, said supporting means including a plurality of sidewisely disposed belts longitudinally spaced apart and having co-extensive paths of travel which are parallel and in a substantially horizontal plane thereby to establish between said belts and in said plane an auxiliary path of travel, said sewing means being located in said plane between said belts, and an auxiliary belt guided for horizontal travel in the same direction traveled by said plurality of spaced apart belts and in said auxiliary path, said auxiliary belt entering the said horizontal plane at a point ahead of the commencement,

of said co-extensive paths of travel, then traveling in said horizontal plane toward said auxiliary path, then traveling in said auxiliary path co-extensively with said plurality of spaced apart belts, and then, at a point ahead of said sewing means, diverging downwardly from said horizontal plane.

2. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising sewing means, means for supporting a line of feathers or the like and transporting it through the field of operations of the sewing means, said supporting means being provided with a portion traversing a predetermined point whereat feathers or the like may be fed, guiding means for said supporting means, and a resiliently mounted roller located above and transversely of the path of movement of the transporting means and under which roller a flexible cord may pass to be guided into substantial parallelism with the line of transportation of said supporting means, said parallelism between said predetermined point of feed and a predetermined point in said line of transportation beyond said sewing means extending in a common plane with said supporting means.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, comprising sewing means, translatable means for supporting a line of feathers or the like and transporting it through the field of operations of the sewing means, guiding means for a portion of said line, means adapted to feed simultaneously with the transportation of said line a cord or the like adapted to bear against a part of said portion, whereby said portion will be interposed between said guiding means and said cord, said guiding means including a roller located above and transversely of said portion and in advance of the sewing means, and a member adapted to approach said guiding instrumentality angularly in the direction of the transportation of said line and adapted to pad down the portion of the line passing therebeneath.

4:. In apparatus of the kind described, comprising sewing means, translatable means for supporting a line of feathers or the like and transporting it through the field of operations of the sewing means, guiding means for a portion of said line, means adapted to feed simultaneously with the transportation of said line a cord or the like adapted to bear against a part of said portion, whereby said portion will be inter posed between said guiding means and said cord, said guiding means, including a roller, located above and transversely of said portion and in advance of the sewing means,

and a presser finger adapted to approach said guiding instrumentality angularly in the direction of the transportation of said line and adapted to pad down the portion of the line passing therebeneath.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination; an endless conveyer belt supported for lengthwise movement within a substantially vertical plane and having a length thereof lying within a substantially horizontal plane; a similar belt similarly supported within said vertical plane and also having a length thereof lying within a substantially horizontal plane but at a different level from and contacting with the similarlylying length of said first-mentioned belt; a pair of similar belts lying within a vertical plane substantially parallel to said first-mentioned vertical plane, one of said pair of belts being supported similarly to. said firstmentioned belt and the other of said pair of belts being supported similarly to said second-mentioned belt, and said pair of belts having respectively contacting lengths similar to the contacting lengths respectively of said first-mentioned belt and of said secondmentioned belt, and which lengths lie respectively in substantially the same horizontal planes within which lie respectively the contacting lengths of said first-mentioned belt and of said second-mentioned belt; a single endless conveyer belt supported within a substantially vertical plane lying between the two vertical planes aforesaid; and means adapted simultaneously to drive said belts; the vertical plane Within which is supported said last-mentioned belt interlapping the vertical planes within which l'e certain of the four first-mentioned belts.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, an endless conveyer belt supported for lengthwise movement within a substantially vertical plane and having a length thereof lying within a substantially horizontal plane; a similar belt similarly supported within said vertical plane, and also hating length thereof lying within a substantially iorizontal plane but at a different level from and contacting with the similarlydying length of said first-mentioned belt; a pair of similar belts lying within a vertical plane substantially parallel to said first-mentioned vertical plane, one of said pair of belts being supported similarly to said first-mentioned belt and the other of said pair of belts being supported similarly to said second-mentioned belt, and said pair of belts having respectively contacting lengths similar to the con tasting lengths respectively of said first-- mentioned belt and of said second-mentioned belt, and which lengths lie respectively in substantially the same horizontal planes within which lie respectively the contacting lengths of said first-mentioned belt and of said second-mentioned belt; sewing means located between said pair of belts; an endless conveyer belt supported Within a substantially vertical plane between the two vertical planes aforesaid, and adapted to have fed thereto for transportation therewith a line of feathers; means adapted simultaneously to drive said belts; and means adapted automatically during the simultaneous movement of all of said belts to cause said line of feathers to be guided from said last-mentioned belt for subsequent engagement by said four firstmentioned belts thereby to be transported past the field of operation of said sewing means.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, an endless conveyer belt supported for lengthwise movement within a substantially vertical plane and having a length thereof lying within a substantially horizontal plane; a similar belt similarly supported within said vertical plane, and also having a length thereof lying within a substantially horizontal plane but at a different level from and contacting with the similarly lying length of said first-mentioned elt; a pair of similar belts lying within a vertical plane substantially paral lel to said first-mentioned vertical plane, one of said pair of belts being supported similarly to said first-mentioned belt and the other of said pair of belts being supported similarly to said second-mentioned belt, and said pair of belts having respectively contacting lengths similar to the contacting lengths respectively of said first-mentioned belt and of said second-mentioned belt, and which lengths lie respectively in substantially the same horizontal planes within which lie respectively the contacting lengths of said firsumentioned belt and of said secondunentioned belt; sewing means located between said pairs of belts; an endless conveyer belt supported within a substantially vertical plane lying between the two vertical planes aforesaid and adapted to have fed thereto for transportation therewith a line of feathers; means adapted simultane ously to drive said belts; a resilient presserfinger supported above said conveyer belt and directed downwardly toward said conveyer belt and extending toward the sewing means; and means adapted automatically during the simultaneous movement of all of said belts to cause said line of feathers to be guided from said last-mentioned belt for subsequent engagement by said four firstmentioned belts thereby to be transported past the field of operations of said sewing means.

In witness whereof l have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. KAUFMAN. lVitnesses:

AUoUsTUs M. HENRY, ALBA 1L. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

